The Lyons and the Landrums: A Tale of Kinship and Murder

Every family has its less-than-savory branches, and the Lyons (also spelled Lynes and Lines in the nineteenth century) of southeastern Mississippi were no exception. The Lyon family produced noteworthy political reformers in the 19th and 20th centuries, but in 1857, a father and son of that name (spelled Lynes in the published court transcripts) were convicted of murder.

It’s interesting to note the persistence of traditional customs of patriarchal kinship in the following story of that murder. I’m certain, for example, that the fact that Charles Landrum was married to Thomas Lynes’s daughter helped to fuel the rage that led to his murder. Landrum had testified against his father-in-law in a larceny case, an act that marked him as disloyal to family. Lynes also administered harsh punishment to the daughter who apparently stood by her husband over her father, while he treated another daughter as property to be bargained away when it served his interests. It’s also worth noting that Thomas’s son, Morgan, was only about 16 years old when he participated in the murder of Landrum. Clearly, Thomas Lynes relished the habit of command.

Vikki Bynum, moderator

The Lyons and the Landrums: A Tale of Kinship and Murder

“A more deliberate, cruel, cowardly assassination was never conceived or executed.” (1)

That’s how state attorney general T. J. Wharton described the murder of Charles Landrum of Jones County, Mississippi (2). Less than two weeks before Christmas, 1857, twenty-six-year-old Landrum was shot to death at his own home while playing an ordinary board game with his neighbor, Morgan Lynes (Lyons) (3). Charley had just got up from the game and walked over to the hearth of his one-room cabin to staunch a nosebleed when a bullet blasted through an unsealed crack near the cabin’s chimney. He died instantly.

Morgan, who had made a prescient move toward the door just before the shot rang out, turned to Charley’s horrified wife and exclaimed, “You cannot accuse us of it; we have been too good to you.” In addition to Morgan, “us” included Lemuel Lyons, perhaps a brother, James Hightower, and Morgan’s father, sixty-two-year-old Thomas Lyons. (Old Tom Lyons was the father-in-law of Charley Landrum, which would make “Mrs. Landrum” the sister of Morgan Lyons) (4). A witness who hurried to the Landrum cabin after hearing gunfire testified that all four men were close to the scene. She first encountered Lemuel, then Morgan. Nearby, she heard the voices of Thomas Lyons and James Hightower, although she saw neither man (5).

Poor Charley had surely known his life was in danger. Just days before the killing, his dogs died; one in a fit consistent with strychnine poisoning. Around the same time, his wife woke in the night to some sort of liquid being hurled on her; something so caustic it blistered her arms and hands by morning. But who was out to get the Landrums? And why?

Upon investigation, a motive for the intimidation and murder of Charley Landrum emerged, and it pointed directly at Charley’s father-in-law, Tom Lynes. Turns out that two months before the murder, in September, Tom, his son Morgan, and another likely son, Lemuel, had been indicted on charges of larceny. The principle witness against them was none other than Charley Landrum. After their arrest, both Tom and Morgan retaliated, accusing Charley of swearing a lie before the grand jury and launching threats against him. The killing of Charley’s dogs and abuse of his wife followed soon after.

Meanwhile, according to testimony, Tom Lynes soon deeded all his property to his daughter, Elizabeth. He then offered James Hightower a deal he couldn’t resist: Tom would “give” Elizabeth to him, with all her new wealth, in exchange for Hightower pulling the trigger on Charley Landrum. At least that’s what Hightower claimed. Tom Lynes, backed by his son Morgan, affirmed that Hightower had indeed murdered Landrum—he claimed he even watched him load his gun at the Lynes home—but Tom denied that he had hired Hightower to do the dirty work by promising him his newly-propertied daughter. (No one seemed to care what Elizabeth thought of this arrangement).

At their joint trial in October 1858, Thomas and Morgan Lynes were found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Under a writ of error won by the Lynes’s lawyer, however, the supreme court of Mississippi ruled that Hightower’s testimony regarding Tom and Morgan had been improperly admitted. In delivering the opinion of the court, Judge J. Harris wrote, “the confession of Hightower, so far as it was introduced to establish the fact that he was the perpetrator of the crime, was competent; but so far as it tended to implicate others, was incompetent, and should have been excluded from the jury.” The case was accordingly remanded, and a new jury impaneled to decide on the guilt of the Lyons, but without hearing the testimony provided by Hightower.

The new jury apparently convicted the Lynes anyway, but did not sentence them to die. The federal manuscript census of 1860 lists Thomas “Lines”, age 65, and his son, Morgan, age 18, as living in a household headed by A. M. Dozier, a doctor. Under the column reserved for idiots, paupers, convicts, etc., the census enumerator wrote “murder” beside both the father and son’s names (6).

It’s interesting that, while labeled as murderers, the Lynes were neither incarcerated in 1860 nor living among family. Perhaps they were found innocent by the second jury after all, and it was the census enumerator who decided to “convict” them for posterity. Maybe there’s a reader out there who can supply missing details.

The 1850 federal manuscript census for Jones County lists 19-year-old Charles Landrum in the household of Jesse and Jemima Landrum, ages 49 and 44.

Morgan’s full name was Thomas Morgan Lynes (Lyons).

Mrs. Landrum’s first name was not provided. It is possible that Thomas Lynes son, Samuel, is Lemuel. Supreme Court transcripts occasionally miss-reported or misspelled names.

This witness is reported later in the transcript as Susan B. Landrum.

The household of A.M. Dozier, age 27, included Mary R. and Richard Dozier, ages 17 and 10. Dozier appears to have run a boarding house of sorts, as its members also included two school teachers and another doctor in addition to the Lynes men.

I’ve got several suspiciously “widowed”great Aunts in Jones and Jasper counties who could attest to the same kind of neighborly reciprocation. None, that I am aware of, made it to court, so the stories are hearsay. But what great stories!

One of my great uncles was shot for stealing a catfish so big all the rightful fisherman had to do was to follow the trail made by the fish’s tail, as my uncle dragged him home over his shoulder.

Another was knifed over a pig. All cases were “settled” out of court in family feud fashion.

What an intriguing story. Kudos, Vicki! I have to say that I am not at all surprised. In fact, I wonder about Charlie’s background (was he originally from the North, for instance). Even today, disloyalty to family is one of the worst crimes you can commit in the South. I was born and raised in the South –so, I cannot say if this phenomenon is true elsewhere. Charlie really should have known: first, not to testify against his wife’s family. Second, after testifying, he should have known to move away and never return. My dear granny even conveyed to me tales of well poisoning, and poisoning of animals. Apparently, this was a common way of sending a message to people–that they would be next– during certain periods in Southern history. We have a controversy in our family that our family moved to Alabama from Georgia after a “mule” or well was poisoned–I can’t remember exactly. I do agree with the comments above that “feuding” is very common in the South (even today). That is why I state that Charlie was rather naive. I also wonder what his relation with his father-in-law was before this happened. At the risk of sounding harsh–it was rather heartless to kill him so close to Christmas.

Thanks for your great comments, Jon and Ms T A–you both provide vivid imagery of a “family-oriented” South!

Court cases such as this murder trial are pretty rare, precisely because, as you both show, family feuds were commonly settled privately, or at least before murder occurred!

When a feud ended up in court, what would have been an interesting family story became documented history. What’s interesting about Charles Landrum, is that I found nothing about his murder in the Landrum family histories that I accessed, making me wonder if his story survived among family memories.

Cindy Devall will find this interesting: E.M. Devall (Jones County sheriff during the war) was the census enumerator who labeled Thomas and Morgan Lynes as guilty of “murder” on the 1860 federal manuscript census for Jones County. I’m more inclined than ever to believe the courts overturned their conviction.

Vikki, I apologize for spelling your name incorrectly. It was an honest mistake, truly. Just curious as to how you get inspiration for your stories? Also, is there anyway to send you a message outside of the blog? I just have a couple of comments that I would not like to mention publicly.

I am maryalice landrum huffman, father being benj scott landrum, indian territory 1901. am doing family history but cannot find where james h landrum and wife, children (13) came over trail of tears. he fought in rev war, can you give me any info on him from state of GA. cannot find his grave, need lists of person traveled to I.T. near Ft wayne, end of journey. plese feel free to email me at maryalicehuffman@cox.net. thank you.

Charles Landrum sister Elizabeth B Landrum married Thomas Holloman he was in co D 1st Regiment, New Orleans Infantry and Charles brother John Landrum was also. His sister Cynthia Ann Landrum married John “Tarbucket” Tucker he was in co E 1st Regiment, New Orleans Infantry all this is also what may have lead to him being murdered. he was my 1st cousin 6x removed. his father Jesse M Landrum and Henry Marshall Landrum Sr were brothers.Henry Marshall Landrum Sr sons William Pinkney Landrum ,Thomas S Landrum were in the 1st Regiment, New Orleans Infantry and Linson B Landrum died there. i think that Thomas is the Capt Landrum talked about in the books he lead a lot of his family and inlaws to join the Regiment, New Orleans after they got ran out of Jones Co Miss. my line is from Linson B Landrum.

I have an interesting story. Obediah Lyons was in company K 8th Mississippi Infantry with Russell Holliman. Obediah was the doctor in unit, and he was a preacher married to Sarah Francis Pitts, daughter of Daniel Pitts and Margaret Walters Pitts. Russell Hollimans first wife, Martha Ann Miller Holliman, died in 1890/1891. Russell married Sarah Francis Pitts Lyons in February 1891. No proof of when Russell died. It was after 1893 because he applied for William Brazill Holliman’s pension benefits in 1893. Wm Brazill Holliman was in 1st New Orleans, and died at 18 years old of dysentery and phthsis, aka tuberculosis, while in New Orleans. Four Hollimans go in, and only one comes out. Obediah Lyons was preacher in Jones County MS and Washington County, AL. I was contacted by Lyons family member asking if I knew any info on a McBride being child of Obediah. According to church history Obediah was married to Sarah uninterrupted, or it leaves that part out. I just find it hard to believe divorces and infidelity was accepted in churches. It has not been that long ago when churches did not allow preachers to stay once these kind of scandals hit.

Also, I would lie to add that James Holliman and Matilda Oliver Holliman were the parents of Thomas Holliman who married Elizabeth Landrum. James and Matilda’s two other sons, James and Oliver, signed up for 1st Infantry in New Orleans. Oliver was only one that came back. William Brazill Holliman, known as Brazill, was son of Russell Holliman and Martha Ann Miller Holliman. They had 6 children: Seleta, Thomas Russell, Serena, John Riley, William Brazill and Nancy Ann. Thomas married Darley Ann Hutto, and John Riley married Mary Elizabeth Hutto. The Thomases are always mixed up. Thomas, son of Russell and Martha, was shot by his brother, John Riley, sometime after the war. Some say it was accidental while turkey hunting, and others say it was over land. I am John Riley’s great great granddaughter, and our family has been told that Thomas jumped up on a stump gobbling like a turkey, and John Riley accidentally shot him.

Russell and Martha Holliman’s (my 3rd grt gps) is a tale to be told. In 1861, Russell volunteers for one year 8th inf. And shows no record of pay. Martha’s parents are deceased at early age, and her sisters die early, possibly during childbirth. Seleta’s 1st husband either died in Civil War or left her. His last name was Overstreet. She married a widower, Allen Smith. She had children from both. Thomas was not in war, but is found in records of confederate citizens. I believe he may have been Tom Holliman in Newt Knight group, but no proof. John Riley was in 7th Inf. Co. C, signs up with others in 1862, deserts after Corinth, back by Vicksburg, POW from Vicksburg, and tried for desertion but acquitted and received public reprimand and loss of pay. He first married Mary Jane Chatham, and divorced her for moving in with Russell’s neighbor, Glenn Clark, a mulatto man. Serena marries George Dykes, they have two children. After war, George is gone either to Louisiana or Alabama and married. I believe he married two more times after Serena. Serena is married to a black man, Thomas Mason, and they have four children. And, Nancy Ann marries James Douglass, and they have children. I imagine the story between these brief details. Russell and Martha lived through grief and scandal, just like we do, but for some reason it just seems so unbelievable for them. What a story!!

Kimberly,
I’m a descendant of Obadiah and Sarah Pitts Lynes. I cannot find any documentation where Sarah Pitts was ever married to Russell Holliman in February 1891. Obediah and Sarah Pitts Lynes moved to Hawthorne, AL (Washington County) in 1883 and resided there until their deaths. They are both buried in Hawthorne, AL. Obadiah did have 2 children with Lydia Agnes McBride.

Thanks Charlotte for responding. I spoke with Jean Strickland many years ago about my belief that it was not the same Sarah Pitts as married to Obediah. She stated she believed it was from her research. If I remember correctly, we could not find any divorce records because the Courthouse had burned. But, I will go to Jones County Courthouse and try to get a copy of this marriage license. I will let you know what if it provides any clues. Thank you.

Kimberly, I believe there were 2 Sarah Pitts living in Jones County and the Sarah Pitts that married Russell Holliman is not the same person married to Obediah Lynes. My ancestor, Sarah Frances “Sally” Pitts (1838-1920) is the daughter of Daniel Pitts, Sr. and Margarette Walters. I have been researching Obediah and Sarah’s family for years and have found Obediah an interesting and intriguing character. While I have compiled a lot of information, there is still a great many unanswered questions. When I came across Vikki Bynum’s writings, I was even more intrigued. Obediah did have 2 children with Lydia Agnes McBride while he was married to Sarah and after Lydia’s husband, David McBride died in NOLA during the Civil War. I’d love to share and compare notes privately (charlotteskramer@yahoo.com). Thank you Mrs. Bynum for your wonderful research and writings.